Keel-block.



PATENTED DEC. 22, 1903-.

G. ANDERSON.

KEEL BLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24 1903.

N0 MODEL.

THE mums PETERS co, PNOTO-LITHO, wAsmm-wm D. c.

UNITED STATES Patented December 22, 1903.

GUSTAVUS ANDERSON, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

KEEL-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 747,349, dated December22, 1903. Application filed August 24, 1903. Serial 110.170.581- (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUsTAvUs ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at 0amden, in the county of Camden and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Keel-Blocks,ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in keel-blocks such as areemployed in the building or repairing of vessels.

The object of the invention is to provide such a device which can bemore easily and readily removed from beneath a vessel than can thedevices commonly in use.

A keel-block constructed in accordance with the present invention isshown in the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the block consists of aground or base section 1, which gradually increases in height from bothsides toward themiddle, thus pro-.

viding two oppositely-inclined surfaces 2 3. Above said base-section isarranged a ridersection 4, having its lower surface similarly formed,but arranged opposite to the upper face of the ground-section, and twowedgeshaped spacing-pieces 5 6 are arranged between said ground andrider sections. inner ends of the wedge-shaped spacingpieces 5 6preferably lie in planes extending at right angles to the plane of thebottom of the base-section, and when said wed ge-shaped pieces are intheir innermost positions the inner ends thereof abut and are in thevertical plane of the highest or deepest portions of the ground andrider sections 1 4. The parts are maintained in this position when theblock is in use by means of a tie-rod 7 extending through thewedge-pieces 5 6 and provided at its ends with any suitable means, suchas bars or plates 8 and nuts 9, for preventing the separation of saidwedge-pieces.

It will be seen that this construction provides a practically solidblock, although the parts thereof can be readily separated when it is tobe removed fromv operative position. To eflect such separation, thetie-rod 7 and its fastening devices are withdrawn from both of theintermediate pieces 5 6, and the latter are then readily separated andforced outwardly by inserting suitable driving-wedges between theirmeeting ends. As said intermediate pieces 5 6 are thus separated, therider-section 4 Will settle or move downward out of contact with thekeel previously resting thereon. By making the base and rider sectionsof the form shown and described it will be seen that outward movement ofthe intermediate pieces 5 6 is facilitated and rendered much easier thanwould be the caseif the meeting faces of the base-section andintermediate pieces, for instance,were arranged in a horizontal plane.

Keel-blocks constructed in accordance with this invention can berepeatedly used, the assembling or separation thereof not causing anyserious damage to any of the parts.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. Theherein-described keel-block, consisting of base and rider sectionshaving two oppositely-tapering ways formed between their adjacent faces,wedge-shaped pieces arranged in said ways, and means connecting saidintermediate pieces. I 2. The herein-described keel-block, consisting ofa ground or base section which gradually increases in height from itssides to its median plane, a similarly-formed, reverselyarranged,rider-section, two wedge-shaped pieces arranged between said base andrider sections, and means detachably connecting said intermediatepieces.

3. The herein-described keel-block, consisting of a ground or basesection, the upper surface of which is inclined downwardly in oppositedirections from a central transverse plane,a rider-section of similarform reversely arranged above the base-section, two wedgeshaped piecesremovably arranged between said base and rider sections, aconnecting-rod extending through said wedge-shaped pieces, and means onsaid rod for engaging with and preventing separation of said pieces.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GUSTAVUS A DERsoN.

